Sept. 12, 2011
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WAYZATA, Minn. – Senior Chris Brant won medalist honors at the Golden Gopher Invitational Monday afternoon as the Hawkeyes took home sixth place out of 14 teams. Iowa posted a third round team score of 306 (+18), bringing their 54-hole total to 895 (+31). Arkansas won the team title with a mark of 880 (+16). Action was held at the par 72, 7,020-yard Spring Hill Golf Course in Wayzata, Minn.
Winning his first outright individual title in his collegiate career, Brant posted a third round of three-under par 69. The returning PING All-American posted a tournament total of two-under par 214 to finish one stroke ahead of teammate and senior Barrett Kelpin. Brant started the day by going five-under through the front nine. He struggled after the turn but sunk an eagle putt on 16 to pick up two strokes and break 70 on the day. Brant’s first tournament title was shared with former teammate Vince India at the 2010 Golfweek Conference Challenge.
Kelpin’s runner-up finish marks the highest of his Iowa career. The Kalamzoo, Mich., native relied on solid scores from his first and second rounds to bring home a top-3 finish for the Hawkeyes. Kelpin posted a third round of 75 (+3) but distanced himself enough from the field in the first two rounds to finish second. He finished with a tournament score of one-under par 215.
After two rounds at 74 (+2), sophomore Steven Ihm carded a third round of 85 (+13). In his debut as a Hawkeye, the Peosta, Iowa, native finished tied for 52nd with a 54-hole total of 233 (+17). Senior Brad George (235, +19) finished 57th and redshirt freshman Ian Vandersee (248, +32) finished 70th in his first Iowa start.
Iowa returns to the links Sept. 25-27 when it hosts the Golfweek Conference Challenge in Burlington, Iowa. The Hawkeyes are the reigning champions at the Conference Challenge.